I need help

OK, I'm doing a little research here and I want honesty, please, that's why its research.

So I made this little I Spy book for my kids w/ actual photos, kinda like the real books, but w/ their own toys and things of mine. They like it so much that I've thought of selling it. BUT I don't want to invest the money it'll take TO sell if it's not going to. SO... are I Spy Books (17 puzzles) something you'd be interested in? How much would you be willing to pay for something like that? The pages are 4x6 each

Happy Birthday to ME!

First, my dear sweet friend Kristin gave me an award over at her blog, Reclaiming the Home

Soo,... in following the rules of the award, which looks like this


here goes:
Here are the rules for the award:

1. Put the logo on your blog;

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you;

3. Nominate at least seven other blogs;

4. Add links to those blogs on your blog; and

5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

1. Jeanette over at Keep Me In Stitches is an inspiration to me because she encourages all my new endeavors. She's also an amazing friend. THanks for your support!

2. Jen Leheny at Red Instead is an amazing seamstress- pretty much the seamstress that I hope to be after some practice!

3. Beth at Lula Louisebecause it was HER tutorial that helped me make a shirt that got me so pumped about sewing!

4.  My amazing Allison who just rocks at everything she does.

5. Karin at Nordic Craft because  she's a girl of my own heart- loves to craft and wants to share it. She's got some great stuff on her blog!

6.  Lisa at Isby Blue because somehow she juggles even more kids than I do and is super amazing at all her projects.

7. Amy at  New England Quilter because she's incredible at all the stuff she does and is pretty cool to help, too!

Alright, on to the post about my Birthday. So, for my bday, DH got me Breaking Dawn- I'm still at the beginning, so don't spoil it for me! He gave me much more than that, though. He stayed home from work with the kids so I could go play. My dear friend Rachel spoiled me ROTTEN on my bday. First we went and got manicures and pedicures. Then she took me to her hairdresser to get the sidebangs I've been wanting for forever! THEN we went to this store in Magna where nothing's over $5.99 and we got 9 shirts between us (we share clothes). To top it off she invited us over and we had pizza at her house for dinner. Thank you Rachel, I totally needed that!

 
This is me wearing one of the new shirts.

Shameless Show-Off

Ok- you know how I want to become a better seamstress? Well, I've decided that I'm in love with reconstructing clothes as WELL as regular sewing. I figure it's a great way to practice, increase my wardrobe, and do my part.

SOOOO.... I went to the library yesterday and got a bunch of books. If you know me at all, you know that I'm not patient and I want to do things RIGHT NOW, but I was at my mom's house..... So as soon as I got home, I found a pair of jeans that fit around the waist, but happened to be those ever-unflattering tapered legs. Combined w/ ribbon and a shirt I used to wear all the time, here's what I've got now!


And  to sweeten the deal, my nieces were at my mom's when I went to the library, so when my SIL came to pick them up, I asked her if she had any clothes that needed to go to DI and when she did could I have them? She let me know that she had a few bags in the trunk on their way. They were exactly what I needed. 3 of the shirts actually fit me and look cute as is!

On top of everything- today is my birthday and I think we're going shopping! Without my older 2 kids! So i might not sew much today. Between the fun stuff planned and the fact that my husband bought me Breaking Dawn.....

Oh, and I was honored to see that Jen Leheny at http://www.jenleheny.com came over to visit my blog. One thing I love about my blog is that it's all about inspiration. I LOVE seeing what people have done similar or with the same idea as mine. I love seeing links and pictures to other people's works of art. And to me, NOTHING makes my day more than inspiring someone. It gives me a natural high. So THANK you for your comments and totally- I want to see your ABC book!

WIP update

Ok, I finished the block (like I said, it was sewing one straight line)
I also did most of the duvet cover. The blanket I'm putting inside of it is at my friends house right now. I'm actually going to sew it inside and tie it so it's a new blanket altogether.

Also- last night I started an ABC book for Juliana for Christmas. I got the inspiration here. Her drawings are STUNNING and beautiful. My paintings are very elementary and a little on the cheesy side, but hey, she won't care, right? Here's what I have so far

Well- I am going to my mom's tomorrow and I *hope* we can figure out her serger so I can finish my shrug the easy way. Otherwise I have to do real sewing *yikes*! Wish me luck. ANd keep posting your WIPS here or on the flickr group.

WIP it, WIP it good

Today I need to work on some WIPs. Mostly so I can get started on Christmas gifts.

Here are my WIPs:

Red Peasant Shirt (sewing, elastic)
Rattle Block (sewing one side closed)

Aprons (1 for each of the older kids- just needs to be sewn)

Duvet Cover (everything, but it's just a simple sew)
Old Sweater Shrug (Hemming, adding a button and a button hole)

Alright, WIP with me? Then post links to your blog or picture to share! You can also join in here

I finally did it!!!

I made a shirt today! I found THIS tutorial and decided, what the heck, why not? So I grabbed some material. Now- I know better than to do first time clothes with anything but regular cotton. But all I had was this fairly heavy silky/polyesterish- I don't know what it is exactly. So I thought, eh, if it doesn't work, I"ll use it for a skirt for Juliana eventually. I followed the tut prety much, then went to try it on. It was a tent. I looked like an old lady that owns 25 cats and lives in a dump. It was awful! Nothing wrong w/ the tut, I just used WAY too much fabric was all (I didn't measure everything exactly). So I decided to take it in and after taking it in like 3" on each side...... still a tent! So I went upstairs and asked Roger to do some pinning where I wanted it to fit. He did and I sewed up the adjustments. I bought some ribbon tonight to use for a belt (I have some D-rings here at home I need to spray paint gold). I've been wearing the shirt since like 3PM but every time I passed a mirror something just didn't sit well. I don't know if it's the line straight down the middle.... DH and BFF said that it was cute and I don't *think* they'd lie to me. Tonight it hit me though- it was the neck. There's so much fabric between my neck and my breasts that they look saggy to me. So I think soon I"m going to adjust the neckline. Either square it, v it, or scoop it. I just need a little less fabric there.
Anyway- here it is- I'm very proud of myself!

You can't see, but there's kind of darts on the side so it's tighter by my breasts and looser by my waist.

Also, I made a couple hand-painted cards last night.

I'm doing it for reals!!

Ok, first announcement, I finished something!!!! Two things actually!
Here is one of the kids' neck pillows. Perfect? No, but it works (mostly)

The next is Juliana's "summer" blanket. I needed something thin because she INSISTS on taking a blanket to bed. So I made this easy sew, no batting, "quilt"

I tied the ties on the ponies' tails because I wanted it to be kinda playful

AND- I'm even working on a new project, get this, for myself. I know, I know- didn't think it would ever happen, but under Kristin's tutelage and with random fabric that didn't cost me anything, I finally got the guts to try. Kristin did all the math for me in converting this tutorial to adult. She's also going to help me take it so it ends up being something cute like one of these shirts from Torrid, Fashion Bug, and Lane Bryant. She said it's just adding elastic under the bust. I seriously wouldn't have the guts to even TRY making any, any, any clothes for myself without her. So a big huge THANK YOU KRISTIN. Hopefully you'll see the end result *soon*
 

Conquering Fears

I figured out why I haven't been sewing, crafting, or crocheting lately. I'm scared witless! I've discovered that if something turns out not quite right I get really discouraged and it's hard for me to pick it up again. I finished Vaughn's afghan and thought it was pretty dang neat till I saw it from a distance and, just like everyone else's first afghans, it has a funky side. I want to do it again, but I don't know how to ensure correct edges!

I am inching closer and closer to trying to sew a couple simple items of clothes from the tutorials on Kristin's blog. I'll use fabric that I have just sitting here. *SCARY* but I really really want to. I just want someone holding my hand and talking me through it step by step. I need a tutor! :D

Anyway- I do plan on adding more here. I'm tempted to do what Kristin's doing and do one creative thing a day....

I started!

Kristin inspired me to get craftin' again. I'm not done w/ the projects. Actually, I'm done w/ one of them....

First, she made some adorable bean bags and matching bags to put them in. I went through my stash and got the bags done, but not the beanbags. They are sewn together, but not filled yet.

I also decided my kids need neck pillows- you should see them attempt to sleep in the car. It's sad. Well, my printer wasn't working, so Kristin told me to "wing it." Very scary concept for me, but I tried anyway. This is what they looked like before I stuffed them.

More pictures of Vaughn

I've had a request for more pi cs of Vauhn. I had been waiting to do his photo shoot, but he's not very cooperative when it comes to that. He always picks picture time to be fussy. SO here are a few and I PROMISE I'll be crafting again soon.
As a matter of fact, I hope to make 5 I Spy books this weekend. I want to sell them at the yard sale we'll be having before too long.

Anyway- back to Vaughn
ok, it's not letting me add anymore. Apparently only SOME jpgs are valid formats.....